Readers share views on school choice, stereotypes, Donald Trump
School choice
I’m a firm believer that every child can and wants to learn, but that as a teacher it’s up to me to find the ways to best teach him or her.
That is why I began teaching online at Insight School of Kansas and why I’ll be observing National School Choice Week with the rest of my school community this week.
The week shines a light on the huge variety of education options that work best for children — options we are fortunate to have in Kansas.
I have had several students in my online classroom who were not on a traditional school schedule because of ailments. I’ve also had students who are advanced learners or have suffered from bullying at traditional schools.
Online school has given these students supportive communities and a curriculum structure that best meets their needs. With such a broad range of student needs, it is crucial that families have options so they can decide which learning environment is right for them.
When students and families are able to find and choose their best fit, they are more likely to have greater academic success and experience higher satisfaction with their education.
Ashley Fryer
Columbus, Kan.
Erase stereotypes
As a United States citizen of color, I have always found the war on terror to be a touchy issue.
I have always gotten extra security checks in airports and private places since I was small, and it was awful. Enormous white men smelling like smoke and sweat were able to go free while I, a young brown girl, was stopped and checked for explosives.
America tends to turn a blind eye to the rights and feelings of minorities, especially when it comes to needing to feel safe. The actions of a few people of a certain ethnicity or religion define the whole subculture, and that needs to change.
Shining a light on subjects like these really affects me and inspires me to fight beyond my race’s stereotypes and former institution.
I believe America needs to move past its lack of color-blindness and get past the point where people inappropriately believe that different crimes belong to different races.
Jubilee Chandra
Loch Lloyd, Mo.
Trump as president
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is driving the liberal media, fellow Republicans and Democratic opponents crazy. They vilify him and call him a bigot, a buffoon, a four flusher and anything else.
Yet, Trump keeps leading in the polls, his followers are increasing and he backs away from nothing. You have to love how he has stirred the pot like no other.
Critics say he is playing on the fears of the people because of multiple terrorist crises. His followers aren’t fearful. They are simply ticked off.
He has the established political greed-mongers frightened that he will upset their apple cart and that they might lose their pseudo-royalty status and their ability to set their own salaries, execute ridiculous retirement benefits for themselves and have their own medical insurance coverage.
What a great deal. And they don’t have to accomplish anything except trying to exempt themselves from the troubles they have created and are most responsible for.
Where are the jobs? Where are some positive steps toward a sound economy? Where is our status in the world?
You go, Don.
Calvin Day
Kansas City
Care in abortions
Late-term abortions are a complicated issue. Some politicians and presidential candidates, including Republican Carly Fiorina, want to ban all abortions after 20 weeks.
I believe the issues are too complicated for me to judge the wisdom of such a ban.
However, if such a ban were enacted, then I hope the politicians would address some of the support issues that women might need.
For example, insurance companies should be forced to pay 100 percent for amniocentesis and 3D ultrasound before 20 weeks to detect abnormalities, such as anencephaly or Patau syndrome, which could preclude a viable life after delivery.
Also, to preserve the life of the fetus until delivery, some women would be forced to go into perinatal hospice for three or four months.
Insurance companies should be forced to add coverage for such care to all plans.
Also, if the mother is a working woman, as many are nowadays, then the company employing her should be forced to continue her salary.
Mike Cunningham
Kansas City
This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on school choice, stereotypes, Donald Trump."